Important Dates & Information:

Application and Portfolio Deadline: January 15Enrollment Deposit and Intent to Enroll Deadline: April 15

Eligibility

Applicants to the Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) degree, should already possess one (or more) of the following degrees:

5-year Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, and Bachelor of Urban Planning

Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Urban Planning, or their international equivalent.

Through their application materials, applicants must show evidence of excellence in the design of the physical environment, as well as a commitment to the study of advanced topics in urbanism. Professional design and planning experience will be viewed favorably.

Application

The fee for United States Citizens and those with permanent resident visa status is $75 (U.S.D.). The fee for non-U.S. citizens is $90 (U.S.D.). The application fee is paid online, via credit card. DO NOT send cash. The application is submitted electronically to M.U.D. admissions. There is no need to follow-up with a paper copy of the application. Applications received without fees will not be processed.

Statement of Purpose / Resume

Please write a concise statement outlining your reasons for applying to Taubman College’s Master of Urban Design degree. Your ideas should be clear, well stated, and specific. The following questions serve only as a guide. The essay should be 500-1000 words and clearly communicate to the admissions committee:

Why you want to study urban design

Your career objectives and long term goals

What you want to learn/gain from the degree

How the degree supports your career objectives

What led you to apply to Taubman College

Specific area of emphasis/specialization that you are interested in

Previous professional experiences that have had a profound effect

Your current strengths and weaknesses in reaching your goals

Resume

Please upload an up to date resume with your online application. A good curriculum vitae or resume will give us another view of who you are and elaborate your strengths and skills outside of the classroom, showcasing your accomplishments. In addition to your educational experience, student resume should contain professional experiences, other jobs you have held, a list of groups or organizations that you are involved in, programming languages or other computer skills you have, community involvement or volunteer work that you do. Think of your resume as another opportunity to tell us about yourself.

Portfolio

Master of Urban Design applicants are required to submit a portfolio. Slides, CDs, URLs, and hard copy materials will not be accepted.

The first page of the portfolio (cover page-required) must include the following information

Your last name, first name

whether you are a 2-Year OR 3-Year applicant

email address

The portfolio must be formatted together in one Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)

There are no specified page dimensions or formats, but please note that portfolios will be reviewed electronically on a variety of screens and devices. Please ensure that all text and images will be legible in a variety of contexts. Portfolios may be no longer than 30 pages total and no larger than 50 MB. Portfolios that exceed these sizes may not be reviewed. Your portfolio will not be reviewed if you upload individual pages. Application processing time may increase if your file is incorrectly titled or if a cover page is not included.

Please remember, the admissions committee will only review electronic submissions and will not accept:

hard copy original work or portfolios

actual physical models or other three-dimensional objects (photographs of 3-D work are acceptable)

slides

videotapes

folded materials/blueprints

Powerpoint or word files

electronic media (CDs, DVDs, disks) other than those submitted as a PDF

Transcripts

Applicants will scan and upload an unofficial transcript or certified credentials (scanned from original transcripts) from all universities, colleges, community colleges, study abroad, and summer programs attended. Taubman College only requires official transcripts from those students accepting our offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required and should testify to your academic and professional capacity and promise. If possible, two of these should come from former professors.

Graduate Record Examination

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. Information about the GRE including test dates and locations can be found at gre.org. Please have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan (Institution code 1839, department code 4401) at least 4-5 weeks prior to the application deadline. GRE scores must be no older than five-years old to be valid. There is no minimum requirement for the GRE test.

If you have taken the GMAT or LSAT, we can use those scores in place of the GRE. LSAT scores should be listed on the additional information page of the online application.

English Proficiency / TOEFL / IELTS

All non-native English speakers must take either the TOEFL, or the IELTS. Scores must be no older than two years old to be valid. Non-native English speakers who have earned their degree from a university, where English is the primary language of instruction, are not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS. U.S. citizenship does not exempt applicants from taking the test if his/her native language is not English. Students only need to take one of the above listed tests. Taubman College does not admit students that have not met minimum score requirements.

TOEFL Examination (International Students Only)

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Internet Based TOEFL (IBT) is one of the approved English proficiency tests required of all non-native English speakers. Information about the TOEFL/IBT including test dates and locations can be found at ets.org/toefl. Please contact ETS (ets.org) and have an official score report sent to the University of Michigan (Institution code 1839, department code 12) at least 6-8 weeks prior to the application deadline. TOEFL/IBT scores must be no older than two years old to be valid. The minimum requirements are: 100 IBT, 250 computer based, or 600 paper based. If you have taken the TOEFL exam and not achieved the minimum score you must continue to take the test until you achieve the minimum score to be considered for admission. Taubman College does not admit students that have not met minimum score requirements.

If you are close to the minimum scores outlined above we encourage to retake the exam to meet the minimum requirement. As students who have submitted all required materials by the deadline above (including English proficiency exams) are given first consideration for admission, it may make you a less competitive applicant to not have your scores sent in by the deadline.

IELTS Examination (International Students Only)

The International English Language Testing System exam is another English proficiency tool required of all non-native English speakers. Information about the IELTS including test dates and locations can be found at ielts.org. Please have IELTS send an official score report to the University of Michigan. IELTS scores must be no older than 2 years to be valid. The minimum requirement for the IELTS test is 7.0. If you have taken the IELTS exam and have not achieved the minimum score, you must continue to take the test until you reach 7.0 to be considered for admission. Taubman College does not admit students that have not met minimum score requirements. Please contact ielts.org and have an official score report sent to:

Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan
2000 Bonisteel Boulevard, Office #2332
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2069

All international students are required to submit financial certification as part of their application to show they have funding available to study in the USA. Scanned copies of financial certification documents should be uploaded in the online application. The estimated financial certification for 2019-2020 academic year IS $75,938 USD.

The final tuition rates will be set in July and an exact figure will be available then. The Taubman College Admission Committee does not consider the financial certification form when making decisions regarding scholarships.

Financial certification is solely used for administrative purposes, since it is a required component for I-20 forms. Only funds in a liquid account, such as a checking or savings account will be accepted: Property, life insurance, stock, bonds, jewelry, mutual funds, land, medical savings and retirement accounts, benefit certificates, trusts, securities, and long term savings for housing do not qualify. If a student is supporting him/herself, the applicant must submit a bank statement in the student's name showing sufficient funds (scanned copies of original documents are acceptable). If a person other than the applicant will be sponsoring the student, the applicant must submit two important documents for the financial certification. An applicant must submit either (#1 and #3) OR (#2 and #3) below. An applicant may have several different sponsors. We will need the following documentation from each source of funding:

Letter of support (who will support the student and what their relationship to the student is) signed by the sponsor offering financial support to the student. It must include a signature. OR

Completed financial certification form (found in the online application) with original signatures from the sponsor offering support and the proper boxes checked. AND

A bank statement (on bank letterhead) showing the type of account, the exact balance of the account, and signed by a bank representative. The statement must also show the account holder's name; that name must match the name of the person offering support exactly.

Financial certification must be completed before an offer of admission can be extended.

Passport Copies (International Students Only)

Each international applicant should submit a copy of their passport (and copies of any dependent family member's passport that would be accompanying the student to the USA) with their application materials. Passport copies are required in order to process and I-20 form. Please be prepared to submit passport copies with the online application.

I-20 / Visa (International Students Only)

Applicants that are currently in the U.S. should also send a copy of their current I-20 or I-94 form. A Transfer-In form is also required if an applicant is currently attending another U.S. school or college and is admitted to the program. If applicable, please be prepared to submit copies of current visas with the online application.

Using eShip Global for Immigration Documents

All immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019) that are mailed outside the U.S. are sent express mail using an eShip Global account. You are required to set up an eShip Global for faster, more reliable delivery.

If you are local, you may contact Taubman College Student Affairs about picking up your immigration documents in-person.

When to Make Your Travel Arrangements

Regarding Your Reporting Date

Make your travel arrangements after you have been informed of the reporting date on your immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019). The reporting date will appear in Wolverine Access after your immigration document is issued. The reporting date will not be changed to accommodate personal reasons or plane reservations.

The reporting date on your immigration document is determined by the federal immigration regulations and allows you to participate in university activities and the mandatory International Center SEVIS check-in before classes begin.

You are allowed to enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the reporting date on the immigration document.

You may be prohibited entry into the U.S. at an immigration checkpoint if you arrive after the reporting date indicated on your immigration document.

Regarding Your Visa

Make a visa appointment after you receive your immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019).

Complete the International Center’s Visa Assistance form if you experience a delay in receiving your visa.

Health Check and Immunizations for International Students

The University of Michigan does require certain entering international students to be screened for tuberculosis (TB) upon arrival on campus. The University Health Service has detailed information on this requirement. Screening will be free, confidential and treatment will have minimal cost. For more information, please e-mail tbscreen@umich.edu.

The University of Michigan does not require immunizations. However, it is recommended that students come to school fully immunized to protect their health. Immunizations are one of the most effective public health measures in preventing communicable diseases. Immunization recommendations can be found at University Health Service (UHS).

Undocumented and DACAmented Students

In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education released a Resource Guide Supporting Undocumented Youth: A Guide for Success in Secondary and Postsecondary Settings. Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning is committed to supporting undocumented and DACAmented graduate students. Below are resources available throughout the University of Michigan and answers to questions you may have.

Tuition Costs and Funding

Can undocumented or DACAmented students qualify for in-state tuition at the University of Michigan?In state residency is determined by the Registrar’s Office and may be granted if the student attended Michigan schools and graduated high school in the state of Michigan within the last 28 months, regardless of the student’s citizenship status. If you believe that you should be granted in-state tuition, you should file an application for Resident Classification or an appeal with the Appeal Committee.

Evaluation and Status of Application

Evaluation

Eligible applicants are considered for admission on the basis of the following criteria:

Quality and content of all previous academic education

Evidence of professional commitment and direction, as reflected in your statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation, portfolio, etc.

GRE test scores and TOEFL test scores (if applicable)

The number of openings available

The suitability of the program to the applicant's area of interest

Applications are ony evaluated once all credentials have been received. Applications missing credentials cannont be guaranteed a review by the admissions committee.

Interview

As part of the competitive process of evaluation, the Admissions Committee will conduct personal interviews with each applicant. We will reach out after the deadline to arrange a skype interview once your application has been reviewed.

Using Wolverine Access

Through your Wolverine Access account you will be able to:

Verify the application information you submitted, including, portfolio, test dates and scores, and letter of recommendation that are received.

Allow 5 business days, after creating your account, to verify that your application and materials have been received in Wolverine Access.

Checking the Status of Your Application Online

Applicants can verify application data and status online approximately 10 – 15 days after their application is submitted. The admissions office, will send an email to each applicant that include’s the University of Michigan Identification Number (UMID). You will need to use a login ID and password to confirm some personal data before viewing your application status. Student Service staff will try to keep all materials received current. However, please allow sufficient time for processing before contacting the office.

For Applicants Who are Current Students or Employees: Log into Wolverine Access using your existing University of Michigan Uniqname and password, click New and Prospective Student Business.

Log into Wolverine Access:
After you create your University of Michigan Friend Account visit Wolverine Access and click New and Prospective Student Business. You will be asked to enter the e-mail address and password for your University of Michigan Friend Account. Next you will enter your University of Michigan ID number and birth date.

Please allow 10-15 business days for your application status to update.

Notification of Acceptance

Applicants will be notified of their admission status by late-February or early March. If you are admitted, you will be able to see that you have been recommended for admission by the Architecture Program via the online web application status. Notification letters will be sent via email. Any merit scholarship award decisions made by the Architecture Program will be noted in the letter of admission.

Admitted students are invited to Preview Weekend held, in late March. Preview Weekend is an opportunity for admitted students to visit Taubman College, meet faculty and students, tour the facilities, campus, and Ann Arbor, and attend Taubman College events. Further details are given in the admission letter.

Enrollment Deposit Requirement

Students choosing to accept admission to the Master of Urban Design must pay a $500 enrollment deposit Payment may be completed online by e-check through Wolverine Access, credit card, or in the form of a check or money order (in US dollars) made payable to University of Michigan. This deposit reserves your space in the program. The $500 payment will be credited to your student account and applied toward your tuition. Deadline for receiving your acceptance and enrollment deposit is April 15th.

Residency Classification

Residency Classification Guidelines have been developed to ensure that decisions about whether a student pays in-state or out-of-state tuition are fair and equitable and that applicants for admission or enrolled students who believe they are Michigan residents understand they may be required to complete an Application for Resident Classification and provide additional information to document their residency status. Please see the University of Michigan Residency Classification Guidelines.

I-20 / Visa (International Applicants Only)

It can take up to 6 weeks to receive admissions and immigration documents via U.S. Mail, you are required to set up an eShip Global account for receiving documents from Taubman College. Please review the pdf instructions.